JUST WATCHED

The 'Dancing with the Stars' winner is ...

MUST WATCH

WARNING: The following story contains spoilers about the "Dancing with the Stars" finale.

(CNN)It was an emotional ending Tuesday night for season 22 of "Dancing with the Stars."

In the end, the winner couldn't hear the applause and cheers, but he still felt the love.

Deaf contestant Nyle DiMarco and his partner Peta Murgatroyd were awarded the Mirror Ball trophy. The couple defeated meteorologist Ginger Zee and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy, as well as UFC fighter Paige VanZant and her partner Mark Ballas.

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

Nyle DiMarco, who was paired with pro dancer Peta Murgatroyd, stood out as the first deaf contestant on "America's Next Top Model" Then he won the reality model competition in 2015. The pair won season 22 of "Dancing With the Stars."

Hide Caption

1 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

Singer Wanya Morris, part of the hit R&B group Boyz II Men, danced up a storm on season 22 of "Dancing With the Stars." Paired with professional dancer Lindsay Arnold, Morris was eliminated in the semi-finals.

Hide Caption

2 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

UFC fighter Paige "12 Gauge" VanZant, was paired with pro dancer Mark Ballas, is a top-ranked contender in the women's straw-weight division. She also had a not-so-secret weapon: Her parents owned a dance studio, and she grew up dancing there. The pair made it to the finals.

Hide Caption

3 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller of the Denver Broncos, who is known for his dance moves in the end zone, was paired with professional dancer Witney Carson. The pair were eliminated in week 7.

Hide Caption

4 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

"The O.C." star Mischa Barton, who was paired with Artem Chigvintsev, has a strong background in New York theater. But she hasn't had many big hits since the 2003-07 television hit went off the air. They were eliminated in week 3.

Hide Caption

5 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, who was paired with pro dancer Sharna Burgess, brought his quick feet to the dance floor as a celebrity contestant. They were eliminated in the semifinals.

Hide Caption

6 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

Actress Kim Fields, was paired with pro dancer Sasha Farber, starred in "Facts of Life" as a child and "Living Single" as a young adult and currently stars on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." They were eliminated in week 7.

Hide Caption

7 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie, who was paired with Karina Smirnoff, played football professionally in the USFL, the National Football League and the Canadian Football League. He's now an analyst for the NBC Sports Group. The pair were eliminated in week 6.

Hide Caption

8 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

Marla Maples, an ex-wife of Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump's, was paired with pro dancer Tony Dovolani. Maples married Trump in 1993 and divorced him in 1999. They have one daughter, Tiffany. Maples and Dovolani were eliminated in week 4.

Hide Caption

9 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

Actress Jodie Sweetin, a veteran of "Full House" and co-star of "Fuller House," was the first celebrity competitor announced for the current season. She was paired with pro dancer Keo Motsepe. They were eliminated in week 8.

Hide Caption

10 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee, who was paired with pro dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy, got a serious workout. Chmerkovskiy won season 20 with Rumer Willis. They made it to the finals.

Hide Caption

11 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

Fox News senior correspondent Geraldo Rivera, who was paired with pro dancer Edyta Sliwinska, was the first competitor eliminated this season. Though Rivera has worked for "20/20" and other mainstream media, he's best known for his controversial talk show, "Geraldo," where arguments about controversial topics sometimes turned physical. The couple were the first to be eliminated on the show.

Hide Caption

12 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

Sharp-tongued judge Len Goodman, center, who took season 21 off, is back, joined by returning judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.

Hide Caption

13 of 14

Photos:'Dancing with the Stars' season 22 cast

The reality dance show is hosted by Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews.

Hide Caption

14 of 14

The pair were fan favorites throughout the competition and DiMarco was hailed for being able to dance so well despite not being able to hear.

"You have been incredible," judge Bruno Tonioli said after the pair completed a cha-cha/tango fusion dance. "Nyle, you have given us season 22's most memorable performances."

Read More

But it was judge Carrie Ann Inaba who brought model DiMarco, and the audience, to tears after she delivered some of her remarks to him in sign language.

"I said 'thank you for showing us your beautiful heart when you dance,'" Inaba said when asked by co-host Tom Bergeron what she had signed. "So thank you.'"

DiMarco is the second deaf contestant to compete on the show. Actress Marlee Matlin competed in season 6, but was eliminated before the finals.